Salmon fishery threatens legal action over return of the beaver

The River Tweed Commission has voiced its fears over the effect the reintroduction of beavers will have on salmon stocks

A SALMON fishery board is threatening legal action to block the reintroduction of beavers in Scotland, in the wake of a new study showing they could destroy wild fish stocks.

Nick Yonge of the River Tweed Commission has warned he may challenge the planned reintroduction of the animals amid fears they could dam rivers and streams along which salmon breed.

Yonge claims the animals, which can dam rivers up to 33ft wide, could block off up to 80% of spawning areas around the Tweed and cause devastation on other famous salmon rivers such as the Tay, Spey, Forth and Dee.

Four families of beavers are due to be released in Knapdale, Argyll, next spring as part of a six-year pilot project. If the scheme proves a success, the animals could be released into the Scottish countryside, where the last native beaver was killed 400 years ago.